AustLit
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Image courtesy of Ali Cobby EckermannIn the thirteenth of this series of interviews, Anita speaks to Ali Cobby Eckermann.
Ali Cobby Eckermann is the multi-award winning author of Ruby Moonlight: A Novel of the Impact of Colonisation in Mid-North South Australia around 1880. She travels extensively and also runs an Aboriginal Writers Retreat based in Koolunga, South Australia.
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I was born at Brighton, on Kaurna country, and grew up on Ngadjuri country between Blyth and Brinkworth in mid north South Australia. I travelled extensively and lived most of my adult life on Arrernte country, Jawoyn country and Larrakia country in the Northern Territory. When I was 34, I met my birth mother Audrey, and learned my mob is Yankunytjatjara from north west South Australia. My mother was born near Ooldea, south of Maralinga, on Kokatha country, and I relate to Kokatha mob too.
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The first books I remember reading were children's bible stories. My church gave every child a book for Christmas. I grew to love Enid Blyton, and The Adventures of Tintin and Asterix comics. But the books that impressed me most were The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. These books made me question my personal identity as a young person. More recently I was captivated by The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and writings by Audre Lorde, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
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Of all art forms, why literature?
Ruby Moonlight : A Novel of the Impact of Colonisation in Mid-North South Australia Around 1880 by Ali Cobby EckermannI love the privacy, the adventure and the challenge of literature and reading. It is the perfect avenue to escape personal conflicts, by learning about the tragedy of another's person's conflict and heroism. The privacy of reading does create a buffer zone for reflection. And I do enjoy discovering new tactics of writing, including cultural voices in most books I read. My latest find (a second-hand book) was an anthology of Korean poems.
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What do you love about writing?
Little Bit Long Time by Ali Cobby EckermannI write because I do enjoy the craft of writing. I also enjoy the self-editing process. I love sharing stories and poems with my traditional Anangu family, and involving them in that process. It concerns me greatly that there is no reading material for most people living on a remote Aboriginal community, no newspapers, no magazines, no comics, nothing. I would so love to see this change, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation works tirelessly toward that outcome.
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What do you think makes a 'good writer' and who are some of your favourite authors?
Too Afraid to Cry by Ali Cobby EckermannI think access to mentorships and writing workshops is the key to successful writing. Most writers start by writing their personal experience. For me the challenge has grown beyond that; writing for a world voice. I have been blessed by invitations to travel overseas now several times, and learn so much about myself as an author when talking and listening to writers from other cultures. I also am privileged to have some great writer friends in Australia, including Lionel Fogarty, Robert Adamson, Terry Whitebeach, Bruce Pascoe and the team at Magabala Books, amongst others.
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Currently I am nearing completion of a manuscript of 60-80 new poems, which I hope to hand to my publisher before the end of the year. Then I want to paint a series of 'poetry paintings' and attempt my first prose novel about identity, aimed at youth. I have also been invited to consider a children's book, which is very exciting. I hope that I can achieve these new genres, and look forward to the creative challenges.
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My advice is to be creative! Turn the telly off and be creative. A half an hour each day has the capacity to achieve remarkable results. Be relentless, and find happiness in honouring your story, the legacy of your cultural knowledge.
You can buy Ali’s books from Booktopia.
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